Ray Icaza

I like it. Someone man enough to admit when they are wrong. Need more of that in this world.

You are right about the injury bug that has hit our team on "BOTH" sides of the ball. Not only is Swint, Sinophant and Hickson (#1, #2, #3) down but also injured is #4 Zion Matthews (10th grade); the entire RB group we planned to use The good news is these players won't be lost for the season though maybe another couple of weeks. However, I attended practice yesterday which was spirited, enthusiastic and physical which tells me the most important thing; they got no quit. The QB play has never been a calling card so you can continue to bash them despite their youth and inexperience. Lastly, it seems you continue to focus on our DB's compared to those of Poinciana and point out the lack of discipline on two back-to-back plays that did happen. I tend to focus on the overall picture and Seminole, the #1 ranked team in "ALL" CFL with a vaunted passing attack threw for 152 yards against us with 2 TD's. Nature Coast, who is nowhere in their league, threw for 172 yds and a TD against your studs. But it's all good and you can keep hating.

I can agree with the running clock as a counter argument to the SOS I pointed out; rack up yards quickly against a mediocre team though. Which is exactly why I added the semifinal head to head at your place. You are correct about Massey, but I feel both Reynolds and Jenkins are equally able at WR, just need our QB's to progress with every outing, so time will tell. I think I understand why you think Ja'Keem was the most dangerous receiver based on what he did at Lakeland in the initial matchup. Most of us think Bo was just as dangerous watching "ALL" the games and here are some numbers because as you rightfully point out, it is only an "OPINION". Defensively Bo had 65 TKL's and 3 INT's, while JA had 50 TKL's and 5 INT's. On that side of the ball, Bo (5'10"), was always assigned the opposing "STAR"; in your case the Williams kid at 6'5" and basically shut him down. Most opponents stay away from his side of the field, as he was undoubtedly our best cover corner but ended up at Rutgers due to metrics. Offensively, he had a few less balls thrown his way but averaged about 22 yds. per catch as opposed to JA's 18. They both ran track with Bo at 10.7 in the 100 meters vs JA's 10.9. Digest those numbers as you like.

I brought up the Gator game on a different thread, but I was most disappointed because I did want to watch Ja'Keem as he was listed #2 on the depth chart behind Jason Marshall at RCB so knew he would get some playing time. He did get in the game from what I am told and got one tackle.

Our two top offensive playmakers last year were Swint on the ground and TJ Massey thru the air (700 yards and 6 TD's). Ja'Keem and Bo primarily were DB's, but we would use them in spots as WR with each having almost 300 yds. receiving with Ja'Keem scoring 2 TD's and Bo 4 TD's. Don't know what qualifies as not being world beaters offensively but here is a side-by-side comparison between Lakeland vs OHS last year despite our more difficult schedule. Naughts, 3100 rushing and 1500 passing....total 4600. Kowboys, 2300 rushing and 2000 passing ... total 4300, so comparable. In the semifinal we held you under 200 total yards whereas we had over 250 total despite being on the short end of the score due to unforced INT's. Lastly, these numbers included you guys having 1 extra game vs Venice where you ran over them and piled up the yardage. So maybe we were both less than world-beaters??

Only guaranteed way to get in.

We obviously would have liked to win the Edgewater game, but our understanding was 1st quarter JV vs JV, yet they had many of their varsity players on the field including possibly their best player Cai Bates. That got them out to a 10-0 lead and early in the second quarter when our varsity did come out, our WR playing QB mishandled the exchange with one of our sophomore RB's on a reverse where they recovered in the red zone. That got them another quick score for a 17-0 lead. Taevion got things going in the 3rd quarter and got a score back, before they sat him the entire 4th quarter to give the other young backs touches. Already have given my thoughts on the other 3 games. Long way to go with the #2 most difficult schedule in 4S statewide according to Josh. Jones up next.

Seems like even a "Short Time Observer" would know this.

Huge disappointment not getting to watch the Florida vs Utes game (not much missed) due to being a Spectrum customer as they are in a food fight with Disney over what they describe as outrageous price increases in their contract dispute. I supposed they need to find ways to increase revenue as they are in a financial bloodbath because of their fight with the state. Will be interesting to see how this all shakes out as of the 18.4 million Spectrum customers, about a quarter of us watch the group of channels in dispute.

On a side note, I did get to attend the first UCF home game of the season to watch our DT John Walker as he was #2 on the depth chart. As a true freshman he got about a third of the snaps throughout the game, recorded 2 tackles and had a couple of QB pressures. Certainly looked comfortable and making an impact already.

Was unable to attend last night due to personal situation with family but tried to watch later on NFHS. As usual this telecast is hit and miss with last night being a miss as the broadcast was visible only on 1 side of the 50 yard line. From what I was able to see we continue to struggle sustaining any offense putting too much on our defense. Their first score came from a mishandled snap on a punt with us backed up against our endzone with them recovering the fumble in the endzone. QB play continues to be a work in progress, but against top tier teams it is tough sledding for a sophomore with no varsity experience. With them not being much of a factor, it makes it easier for the opponents to defend the run game especially without Taevion and now also Elijah Hickson. RB Jeff Sinophant has run hard and we got a huge chunk play TD run from Zion Matthews another sophomore RB that sits probably 4th on the depth chart. On the defensive side having lost Elijah Melendez, the only 4* recruit on that side of the ball just another element we will have to overcome. Seems like some of the players were in position to make tackles but failed to get their RB to the ground, instead having them pick up YAC. Sad to lose him for the season as he had worked extremely hard to live up to the hype of being recruited by the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, FSU, So. Cal and the list goes on. He is an example of getting this attention simply from potential, but this season as a full time LB he shined against Apopka as well as TC. In the TC game, he had 4 solo and 7 total tackles leaving the game early in the second half. Sitting a 0-2 is not ideal but also not a reason to panic as long as we continue to get better each game as these youngsters we are playing are certainly getting an education. Seminole is the #1 ranked team in the entire CFL area and will be a factor in 4M. We gotta stay positive and get prepared for the next challenge as that is the mindset I am sure is being instilled by all our coaches. GO KOWBOYS.

I have never complained about any player OHS lost to Poinciana or any other team locally when it usually benefited the players playing time, exposure and success. Again, as Coach Beek pointed out everyone gets transfers; some places more than others and sometimes under suspicious circumstances. If those players elevate his team or any local county team's chance for success I applaud that as I cheer for them all until they play us. My point is suspicions arise when a stud player transfers locally from one school to a rival school usually in their junior and particularly senior year. Our two stud LB's from your list we obviously didn't know them from Adam when they moved here from far away (1 from 2000 miles away) and chose to attend our school. So it appears to me to be an oxymoron that you listed them as transfers on your list, but now you got a new classification called "MOVE INS" for the Poinciana kids. I have sat in the stands at a Kowboy game with Coach Beek and admire what he is getting done at Poinciana; I have told him as much in person. You "MY GUY" just seem to be a hater of OHS.

Let's analyze your list. Brandon Rosa I imagine you listed because he may be zoned for Poinciana, but he started playing at Osceola 3 years ago after his freshmen season and though a senior he isn't a starter on the OL. He is a product of our youth league program since I don't recall if Poinciana has one. Both Melendez and Lee transferred in 2 years ago from Colorado and Ocala, FL after their freshmen campaigns as their families moved to Kissimmee. They are both starters and D1 talent playing in their second season for us though we have lost Melendez for the year with an injury. Elijah Hickson also played in our youth program but ended up at a private school in Orlando for his freshmen and sophomore campaign before transferring here this year; also out with an injury at the present time. Cedric Duval has just transferred this year from Freedom for his senior year and is a starter who in my opinion is as good as any of the DB's you boast on Poinciana's behalf. Lastly is Anthony Powers who's family move here this summer from Live Oak and is competing for a starting spot at QB as a sophomore. Isn't he the one I recall you labeling a bust on twitter? Mainly, I wanted to highlight that this list didn't all come this year, rather over a 3 year span.

He asked a simple question, I gave a simple answer with no judgement about the quality as it varies from school to school or the outcome of the game. My short observation.

NFHS network

AWESOME!!

With regards to depth, player rotation, etc.. questioned by Nolebull, regardless of who OHS plays they rotate a lot of players for continuity reasons from year to year as well as insurance vs the injury bug . They did this last week vs TC whether RB, DL, LB and DB plus they rotated both QB's equally. So a fan like myself who has sat in those stands for over 50 years has seen that firsthand. John Walker first landed under my radar as an incomng freshmen rotating at DT for a senior as an example and we knew then he would be a stud as is the case with other underclassmen I have mentioned filling roles as sophomores on this years team. So Nolebull's assessment may be true for other teams in this regard, but not the case with the Kowboys. Regarding transfers as stated by Coach Beek everyone gets them and most of the one's we initially were getting tended to be "Legacy" players who's dad, mom, uncle, etc.. went to OHS and played for them. They would come in as freshmen and grow with our program as opposed to stealing/recruiting someone else's top player and getting. them as an incoming senior. Secondly, our youth league for decades had 2 teams in Kissimmee both mostly run/coached by former alums who put in the effort to have solid feeder programs. One team generally had players go to OHS while the other fed Gateway HS, at one time the only two public HS. Due to who was doing the heavy lifting in these youth leagues a couple of years back those two teams migrated into one excellent team known as the Osceola Kowboys (8u, 10u, 12u and 14u). Any kid from the area was welcome and hence we would get incoming freshmen zoned for possibly Gateway, Poinciana, Liberty, etc... Hardly any from the St. Cloud area as they have their own youth league programs which tend to feed St. Cloud HS and Harmony HS. Lastly, the kids that went to Poinciana last season as well as this season were "ALL" backups on our squad but excellent players nonetheless as yes they had seen plenty of action at the varsity level for us. Akeem Knox for example would probably start as a RB for 80%+ teams throughout our state and I suppose you can ask Coach Beek his opinion on this assessment. He unfortunately was competing with another RB that is ranked in the top 10 in the entire state, thus his role. To close, my observation is you have lots of folks that know alot about teams around the state but when speaking specifically about my Kowboys not so much. My take.

Seems like a convenient argument, "Prove It To ME" when they made out the schedule with no county teams on it outside of lowly Liberty. As I have told Coach Beek in person as well as publicly on this forum, he is on the right tact to lift that program and wish him continued success going forward. But no matter the arguments made, you can continue stating till you prove me wrong. These are just your opinions which don't appear to be shared by others.

By the way, we may never know as they don't appear to play against each other.

Mainly think STA is overrated on the national level and really not a top 20 comparing them say to the Lakeland team from last year. They got good RB's, but little push from the OL against a defense that wasn't overly impressive as that of either St. Joe or IMG. As far as the QB, you can opine how he will perform against "NORMAL?" competition but he is far from elite. Seems like there offensive output was a ratio of 4:1 against SJB, who again doesn't have the athletes on defense that either IMG or St. Joe has. As far as the score, IMG defense shut out St. Joe as both their scores were gifts on miscues so in my view they were dominant. Final nail in the coffin is STA was in the friendly confines of Brian Piccolo while IMG traveled.

After watching both teams (SJB - IMG) this weekend, I would have to go with IMG as favored.

Excellent observation. When this particular player first made the varsity roster as a Kowboy he was a sophomore listed at 5'9" and 165 lbs. Today as a senior, he stands at 6' & 195 lbs. with 2 years of varsity experience yet we still have others that can do the job. None however is Taevion Swint including Akeem which is why he transferred. As a true freshman, Taevion got more touches (1100 all-purpose yards) than Akeem and as a sophomore last year against very stiff competition racked up almost 1700 yards on the ground with 20 TD's plus another 4 TD's thru the air. That is why I fully support and understand his transfer decision.

Osceola is deep almost every year at RB including this year. I played in the mid 60's for the Kowboys and coached basketball there in the 70's after graduating from college and we have been a running team all those years featuring some of the best backs in the entire state. During these 6 "DECADES" we seldom have featured a real QB much less have depth at that position. Hence why would you need depth at WR when you don't throw the ball so I question some of your supposed knowledge on our team. We tend to have depth in the DL and defense overall as that has always been a strength. Very few years we have the depth in the OL like we have now.

Akeem is a terrific kid and an excellent player which obviously would have helped having with the injuries you pointed out in this thread. Hope he has a terrific year and see he has already gotten offers. Will point out with no malice, that a player like him can look like a completely different back playing Poinciana's schedule vs Osceola's. Not my opinion, as I noticed when Joshua Wilson posted strength of schedule recently in 4S TC was #1 and yes OHS #2. Skilled players like him are difference makers playing mediocre or weak teams, but the trench warfare is the ticket against high level competition.

Jalen did all punting the first 2 games and a pretty decent job actually. Not having Taevion for the first couple of games was a known, so the 2 RB's to back him up were going to be counted on to carry the load. Having one of them suffer an injury the first week of the season does make them go deeper into the "Depth Chart" than they would have liked. They do have an additional RB they can utilize, but having watched practices regularly I have an inkling why they haven't used him which I will not discuss here. Just a simple question. Outside the powerhouse privates, how many HS teams have quality depth at most positions especially the "Skilled Ones"?? Injuries are part of the game and something all teams have to deal with including us.